Urso 250/Urso Forte (Ursodiol) for Primary Biliary Cholangitis

What Members SayTop TipsSide EffectsFAQs

Urso 250 and Urso Forte (ursodiol) are prescription medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).

What Members Say

MHT logo These insights are based on 499 comments about ursodiol from myPBCteam members. These are the experiences of a small number of people and are not meant to be medical advice.

Benefits:

Liver tests often improve, especially alkaline phosphatase, AST, ALT, and sometimes bilirubin.
Twice-daily dosing with food can feel manageable for long-term use.
Some symptoms, especially itching or jaundice, may improve during treatment.

Considerations:

Stomach-related side effects can include nausea, diarrhea, cramps, bloating, or indigestion.
Hair loss is a recurring concern and appears in postmarketing safety reports.
Liver tests need close monitoring after starting treatment and during ongoing use.

How Ursodiol Works and How It’s Taken

Urso 250 and Urso Forte contain ursodiol. Ursodiol is a type of bile acid. It can replace harmful bile acids that may build up in the liver. It may also help protect bile duct cells and liver cells. It can also help the liver release bile.

Doctors prescribe Urso 250 and Urso Forte to treat PBC.

Urso 250 comes as a 250-milligram tablet. Urso Forte comes as a 500-milligram tablet. The scored 500-milligram tablet can be broken in half to provide the recommended dose.

The medicine is taken by mouth with food.

Typical Dosing for PBC

The recommended adult dose is 13 to 15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight each day. The total daily dose is divided into two to four doses and taken with food.

Dosing may be adjusted by your healthcare provider based on your individual needs.

This information is based on the prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Top Advice From Members on Ursodiol

MHT logo These insights are based on 499 comments about ursodiol from myPBCteam members.

Members who use ursodiol often say it helps to stay on top of blood work, give the medication time to work, and keep your doctor updated about side effects or changes in symptoms. Many members also mention practical routines, like taking it with food and speaking up early if cost or access becomes a problem.

1

Get blood work when your doctor orders it.
“Keep a close watch on your blood work as that is the key to success.”
2

Talk to your doctor about side effects or reactions.
“I would take it as prescribed unless your body is having problems tolerating it. If this is the case you should contact your doctor. I had a bad reaction to ursodiol and couldn’t tolerate it. My numbers went way up immediately and made me very sick.”
3

Take ursodiol with food as directed.
“I take mine with food and lots of water and it passes well.”

Connect with others who understand life with primary biliary cholangitis. Join myPBCteam for free.

Ursodiol Side Effects

In clinical studies of Urso 250 and Urso Forte for PBC, the most common side effects include:

Nausea
Diarrhea
Abdominal (belly) pain
Abdominal discomfort
Skin rash
Alopecia (hair loss)
Pruritus (itching)

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Urso 250 and Urso Forte can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Allergic reactions — Hypersensitivity reactions, including hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing, can occur.
New or worsening jaundice — Yellowing of the skin or eyes or worsening of existing jaundice can occur.
Enteroliths, also called bezoars — These rare hardened masses in the intestines can cause a blockage and may require surgery.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

What To Know Before Taking Urso 250 or Urso Forte

Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to any ingredients in Urso 250 or Urso Forte.

Do not take it if you have a known allergy or intolerance to ursodiol or any ingredient in the product.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Some medicines may affect how Urso 250 or Urso Forte works. These include:

Cholestyramine and colestipol
Antacids that contain aluminum
Some medicines that affect cholesterol
Estrogens and some birth control pills

Do not take Urso 250 or Urso Forte if you have a complete blockage of the bile ducts.

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Ursodiol, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Urso 250/Urso Forte for PBC?

In a two-year study, treatment failure happened in 23 percent of people taking ursodiol and 47 percent of people taking a placebo. A placebo is a treatment with no active medicine.

The average time to treatment failure was also longer with ursodiol. It was about 804 days with ursodiol and 641 days with placebo.

In another two-year study, people taking ursodiol had lower levels of several liver blood tests. Median bilirubin decreased by 17.12 percent. Transaminases decreased by 40.54 percent. Alkaline phosphatase decreased by 47.61 percent.

How long does Urso 250/Urso Forte take to work for PBC?

The study does not give a specific amount of time for ursodiol to start working.

Your healthcare provider will monitor liver function tests and bilirubin every month for the first three months after treatment starts. After that, these tests should be checked every six months.

What tests or monitoring are needed with Urso 250/Urso Forte for PBC?

Your healthcare provider should check liver blood tests while you take ursodiol. These tests include gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, AST, ALT, and bilirubin.

The tests should be checked every month for the first three months after treatment starts. After that, they should be checked every six months.

These tests can help find possible worsening of liver function early. If the results rise to a level that is medically important after being stable, your healthcare provider may consider stopping treatment.